Liverpool’s loan signing of Ronald Araujo could complicate the club’s high-profile pursuit of Bradley Barcola due to the Premier League‘s squad rules.
Araujo will become the third new addition to Andoni Iraola‘s squad this summer following the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes and Victor Munoz from Osasuna.
The 27-year-old is set to join on a straight loan with an option to buy and will undergo a medical on Sunday before his move is confirmed.
It is a surprise deal for Liverpool and brings their total of non-homegrown players up to 17 – the maximum that can be registered for the Premier League.
RULE UPDATE: A homegrown player means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the FA or the Welsh FA for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).
That means the ongoing pursuit of Barcola is more complicated as there is technically no longer room for the Frenchman in the current squad.
Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona (Image: PRESSINPHOTO SPORTS AGENCY/Alamy Live News)
Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona (Image: PRESSINPHOTO SPORTS AGENCY/Alamy Live News)
When Araujo’s loan goes through, the 17 non-homegrown players in Iraola’s squad will be as follows:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Giorgi Mamardashvili
Midfielders: Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo
Liverpool will therefore need to sell, loan or deregister one of their other non-homegrown players in order to add Barcola to their Premier League selection if a proposed deal with Paris Saint-Germain goes through.
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That may seem simple, with Calvin Ramsay and Federico Chiesa two such players who are likely to be available for temporary or permanent moves this summer.
Cody Gakpo is another who could leave amid interest from Tottenham, while Hugo Ekitike could be removed from the squad list for the first half of the season as he recovers from a serious Achilles injury.
But the knowledge that Liverpool now need to rid players from their squad could muddy negotiations with potential buyers.
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola applauds the supporters after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola applauds the supporters after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It may place Liverpool in less of a position of strength as clubs know they are above their non-homegrown quota.
This is even more so apparent in the Champions League, with Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni also needing to be registered as part of the senior List A despite being classed as U21s for the Premier League.
The likelihood is that Ramsay will now be loaned, with Araujo able to cover at right-back, while Liverpool could be open to offers for both Chiesa and Gakpo, particularly if Barcola is signed.
But the arrival of Araujo only adds to the delicate balance when it comes to planning the squad for the season ahead.
Barcelona, Spain. 05th Feb, 2023. FC BARCELONA vs SEVILLA FCFebruary 5,2023Ronald Araujo (4) of FC Barcelona before the match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC corresponding to the twenty day of La Liga Santander at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spa
Barcelona, Spain. 05th Feb, 2023. FC BARCELONA vs SEVILLA FCFebruary 5,2023Ronald Araujo (4) of FC Barcelona before the match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC corresponding to the twenty day of La Liga Santander at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spa